OPAPP: Peace deal can't be forged within 3 months

MANILA, Philippines - The government admitted yesterday that it could no longer forge a peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the remaining three months but Secretary Annabelle Abaya, the presidential adviser on the peace process, claimed they have laid the groundwork for the coming administration to work on.

Abaya concluded yesterday the series of dialogues it held all over the country aimed to get the sentiments of Filipinos in ending the decades old war in Mindanao.

“We must prepare our Muslim brothers and sisters for governance. To determine what is good and what rightly belongs to them,” Abaya said, saying the reflective dialogues opened avenues for the next administration to work on to achieve a lasting peace in Mindanao.

She said the Muslims should be prepared for peace and be ready for a liberal and democratic governance that is in keeping with the rest of the world.

The MILF has already submitted an 11-page proposal to the government of which they are asking for self-regulating Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) that would have the power to establish institutions such as civil service, electoral, finance-banking, education, legislation,legal, economic, police, internal security force, judicial and correctional systems.

Presently, the government is determining what is mutually acceptable among the proposals for constitutional amendments and those needs legislative measure to address contentious issues such as governance and use of natural resources.

Abaya said they learned a lot in the series of interactions all over the country dubbed as Dialogue Mindanaw in a bid to pursue a new platform and long and lasting peace in Mindanao, including good governance.

“This is only a fresh start,” Abaya said, saying the on-going peace talks between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is very significant.

Admitting that they could no longer forge a final peace agreement with the MILF in three months time, Abaya emphasized that they have at least laid the ground works for the incoming new administration to follow thru.

Abaya said the dialogues have earned the support from peace advocates, particularly the MILF who at first expressed reservations on the government-led consultations.

She revealed that the inputs gathered would be collated for submission to the peace panels both of the government and the MILF for their study and consideration and for crafting a solution to end the decades-old Mindanao conflict.